Stronger voice for Labrador, sharing circle says

About 40 people attended a sharing circle on Monday to talk about Labrador having more control over its resources and services. (CBC News)

Labrador should have more control over its resources and services, according to some people who met in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Monday.

Almost 40 people gathered at a sharing circle to discuss the topic.

For nearly everyone at the event, the Muskrat Falls project was a tipping point.

Some people said they saw little benefit for resources lost.

"We've never gotten our fair share of resources," said John Martin of Cartwright.

"We don't have decent roads, we're only starting to get now our first little bit of roads and water and sewer in places like that. Some of our communities is in third world conditions."

Muskrat Falls added a sense of urgency. People expressed concerns that they would not get enough of the jobs or access to cheap power, as well as worries about the environmental impact.

"What's going to happen, you know, if we don't speak up and take action now for our generations coming up? All we're going to be left with are holes in the ground, you know, we're going to not have any resources," said Martin.

Marjorie Flowers, who attended the meeting, says it gave her hope to see a large turnout. (CBC News)

Participants said the turnout of almost 40 was larger than expected, and it made them feel they were not alone in their concerns.

"It just, it immediately gave me hope," said Marjorie Flowers. "Hope for the future, hope for jobs, hope for a voice."

Both Flowers and Martin support the idea of a self-governing Labrador, but other people in attendance thought this was not the right solution.

"We are already separate," said Scosha Diamond "I think the focus needs to go into an area of unity and not splitting us up even more."

Diamond says there are ways to get engaged in the political system.

"We are the government," she said. "We can volunteer to be on those policy boards. We can volunteer to go to the government and actually make those policies."

Unlike meetings in the past, the group hopes to use the internet to keep the conversation going and connect with small communities across Labrador.